Mental Health Notes

Good Mental Health

  • Function under adversity.
  • Change or adapt to changes around them.
  • Manage their tension and anxiety.
  • Find more satisfaction in giving than receiving.
  • Show consideration for others.
  • Curb hate and guilt.
  • Love others.

History of Mental Health: PH Setting

  • Pre-Spanish period
    • Mental illnesses were believed to be caused by natural and supernatural occurrences.
    • Babaylan and Manghihilot were involved in addressing these issues.
  • Spanish period
    • Mental illnesses were attributed to offended or displeased deities.
    • Incensed witches or mangkukulam were also blamed.
    • Devilmen or manggagaway were considered causes.
    • Folk healers or herbolarios provided care.
    • Hospicio de San Jose was established in 1782.
  • American Regime (1898 to 1946)
    • Mental disability began to be recognized as a medical illness.
    • Insane Department of San Lazaro Hospital was headed by Dr. Elias Domingo.
    • City Sanitarium was established in 1908.
    • Insular Psychopathic Hospital was established in 1928 (Philippine General Hospital) by Dr. Almond T. Gough and Dr. Samuel Tretze.
    • Treatments used:
      • Fever therapy (through bites of malaria-infected mosquitoes) for manic episodes.
      • Metrazol shock.
      • Insulin shock.
      • Hyoscine injections.
  • Japanese occupation
    • World War II led to mentally ill patients being treated at home.
    • Use of local medicinal herbs.
    • Filipino civilians, guerrilla fighters, and comfort women experienced PTSD.
  • American liberation
    • National Mental Hospital (1946), previously known as National Psychopathic Hospital.
    • Victoriano Luna General Hospital had a 100-bed neuropsychiatric unit.
    • University of the Philippines College of Medicine started teaching psychiatry as a subject (Marciano Limson).
    • University of Santo Tomas established a Section of Neurology and Psychiatry under the Department of Medicine in 1947 (Leopoldo Pardo).
    • Department of Psychiatry was established at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center (1956) - Jaime Zaguirre.

Mental Health: PH Statistics

  • Philippine WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health: at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from mental disorders.
  • 2025: projected 11.3% to 11.6% of the population.
  • Philippine Statistical Authority: 1 in 5 Filipinos suffer from a mental or psychiatric disorder.

Factors Affecting Mental Health

  • Biological Factors
    • Genetic Factors
      • Schizophrenia - hereditary.
    • Neurotransmitters
      • Dopamine - associated with Schizophrenia.
    • Structural Brain Abnormalities
      • Brodmann Area 25 - associated with Major Depressive Disorder.
  • Social Factors
    • Stigma & Discrimination
    • Cultural Beliefs
  • Political Factors
    • Mental Health Policies
    • Corruption & Poor Governance
    • Human Rights Violations

Selected Mental Disorders

  • Schizophrenia
    • A chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
    • People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality.
    • Positive symptoms:
      • Hallucinations
      • Delusions
      • Thought disorders (unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking)
      • Movement disorders (agitated body movements)
    • Negative symptoms:
      • "Flat Affect"
      • Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life
      • Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities.
      • Reduced speaking
  • Depression
    • A common mental disorder that includes:
      • depressed mood
      • loss of interest or pleasure
      • feelings of guilt or low self-worth
      • disturbed sleep or appetite
      • low energy
      • poor concentration.
  • Suicide
    • Greatest cost of mental illness is measured in human lives
    • 3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 24 years
    • Risk Factors:
      • Adverse life events
      • Family violence
      • Firearm in the home
      • Exposure to suicidal behavior of others
      • School and sleeping problems
      • Frequent incidents of self-destructive behavior
      • Loss of appetite or excessive eating
      • Withdrawal from friends and peers
      • Depression and hallucinations
      • A preoccupation with death
      • Putting affairs in order
      • An explicit announcement of thoughts of suicide
  • Anxiety disorders
    • Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension or tension, in reaction to stressful situations.
    • Anxiety disorders: When anxiety occurs without external justification and begins to affect people's daily functioning.
  • Phobias
    • Intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
    • Examples:
      • Claustrophobia: Fear of tight spaces
      • Acrophobia: Fear of heights
      • Xenophobia: Fear of foreigners
      • Spectrophobia: Fear of own reflection or mirrors
      • Chorophobia: Fear of dancing or dance
      • Ablutophobia: Fear of washing or cleaning
      • Caligynophobia: Fear of beautiful women
      • Nomophobia: Fear of not having a phone
      • Kakorrhaphiaphobia: Fear of failure
      • Didaskaleinophobia: Fear of going to school
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Inattention: A person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized; and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension.
    • Hyperactivity: A person seems to move about constantly, including in situations in which it is not appropriate; or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, it may be extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.
  • PTSD

Levels of Prevention

  • Primary Level
    • Health education
    • Healthy lifestyle
  • Secondary Level
    • Ongoing assessment of children prenatally exposed to drugs and alcohol
    • Group counseling and crisis intervention
  • Tertiary Level
    • Psychiatric Treatment & Rehabilitation
    • Psychosocial Support
    • Residential & Assisted-Living Facilities

Pertinent Laws: Mental Health

  • Guidance and Counseling Law (RA 9258) 2004
  • Psychology Law (RA 10029) 2009
  • Philippine Mental Health Act (RA 11036) 2018